igi6] 



HOFFSTADT— PIPER METEYSTICUM 



119 



The peripheral bundles at any node may branch. In older 

 nodes this branching may occur just before the peripheral bundles 

 become pith bundles, and part remain in the peripheral ring; the 

 latter will then connect with the bundles of the leaf at the node 

 below (fig. 19). 



Figs. 2-6. — Transverse section through a terminal bud of P. mcthysticiim, show- 

 ing the course of the bundles; X 168. 



The coalescence of the branches of these bundles does not always 

 occur at the node, but may occur above or below it, as follows: 

 (1) branches of the same bundles may join before passing through 

 a node; (2) branches from different bundles may unite; (3) 

 branches of a peripheral bundle of the internode above may join 

 a peripheral bundle of the internode below. Not infrequently 

 strands isolated in the anastomosing of the pith bundles at any 



